Topic: warn m8000 wiring

[chardrc]

ok went back into the garage and messed with it some more... ended up connecting the "motor ground" wire to 1 of the bolts that goes into 1 of the bars (shiny things) that connects the 2 halves of the winch (motor side and clutch side). will that be a good enough ground or should I connect it some where else?

[Jeffy]

You have the ground connected to the winch itself?  That's not really a good idea since the winch housing is aluminum.  Ground it to the frame or the bottom of the winch plate.

[chardrc]

ok thats what i needed to know.. thanks

edit... (since im lazy and don't want to drill a hole if i don't have too) I could connect that wire to the bolt that connects the bracket / mount for the solenoid box the the winch plate( so essentially connecting to winch plate).

[Jeffy]

Yes, that would work as well as using a bolt that holds the winch to the winch plate.  I forget what I did exactly.

[chardrc]

ok that sounds good.. now for problem #2.. looked at the controller and the rubber protective coating around the wires got destroyed about 6 inches from the connector end... time to call customer service...

[oldjeep]

i like the idea of an on dash switch more than wireless ($30 sounds a lot better than $120...) electronics and me don't go well together.... it all started the 2nd week of my 1st real job when i connected 2 12v batteries for my bosses motor home / van and created a arc welder by accident.....  ..... I think for now i will connect the wire to somewhere that it reaches from the pic solenoid location.

In dash switch costs $2.  All you need is a 2 way momentary switch and some small wire.

[DodgeMudder]

I plan to move my winch control lead under hood, to get it out of the weather on the front of the cheep, after I get it rebuilt so my winch works again, stupid salt causing currosion.  Anyway one thing I also plan to go with the in dash control, is to mount an extra wire lead plug to the grill so I can still connect my lead for when I need to winch from outside of the Jeep.

I realized I needed this after I flopped the Cheep, it was sitting where it would have been unsafe to be in it as it came back over to the wheels, I couldn't get underhood since it was on  the ground, and no-one else could get above me on the hill side to pull it up, so I had to use a snatch block to winch myself back over.  If I couldn't have been able to hook up nd run my winch from outside of the Cheep only, it would have been a real issue trying to get it back on it's wheels, instead of only taking a few minutes.

[chardrc]

In dash switch costs $2.  All you need is a 2 way momentary switch and some small wire.

talked to warn today about the damaged controller wire.. they re sending a new one and i get to keep the old one... so when the new one comes the old one will be taken apart to make an in dash switch system (will have to add a on off switch so i don't bump it and make it go when i don't want it to.) this is all pending how much time i have... 

[FourbangerYJ]

talked to warn today about the damaged controller wire.. they re sending a new one and i get to keep the old one... so when the new one comes the old one will be taken apart to make an in dash switch system (will have to add a on off switch so i don't bump it and make it go when i don't want it to.) this is all pending how much time i have... 

A friend of mine has his winch wire up like that. He keeps the controller that is hard wired wrapped around the shifter. It's outta the way but within easy reach if needed.

[chardrc]

to fallow up. i got the winch installed yesterday, ended up connecting the small ground wire to the mount for the soloniod box. now if i can find the time to get a better altinator and install that electric fan.... 

[oldjeep]

to fallow up. i got the winch installed yesterday, ended up connecting the small ground wire to the mount for the soloniod box. now if i can find the time to get a better altinator and install that electric fan.... 

Skip all that and just get yourself an Optima Yellowtop.   I used to run my 8274 with the engine turned off half the time.  A good deep cycle is better than trying to keep a starting battery up with the alternator while winching.

[chardrc]

well i just bought a optima red top about a year ago so can't really justify getting a new battery... and seems like everyone says you need a 100+ amp altinator if you want to run an electric fan...

[Jeffy]

The red top is fine, so I'd put the priority on the alternator.  If you do any long pulls then you'll run your battery down though.  The stock alternator on the YJ is 75-80amp IIRC.  The option was for a 90amp.  That is to say, you can get by with the stock alternator as long as you keep keep the RPM's up while winching.  This usually means a hand throttle of some sort if you're not sitting inside.

As for the fan I probably could have gotten away with the stock alternator BUT it was cheap and a good idea for winching.  When you're stuck, you'll never hear anyone say, "Boy, I'm sure glad I didn't get that bigger alternator." 

[chardrc]

if i recall corectly when i looked at the alternator yesterday it said 78 amp... thing that annoys me is my gauges are royally messed up so i can't really believe them so i wont know when motor is getting to hot or alternator is really working (unless i get belt squealing or a lower idle from it pulling harder). so maybe i should spend my money on a new gauge cluster..... lol.. I probably wont have time to work on the jeep for a few weeks anyways... 

[Jeffy]

Well, keep in mind that 78amp means peak so at idle you're not making anything close to that.  A higher amp alternator is always a good thing to get but really, how often are you going to use your winch and how much of a pull will it need.  If you're pulling full load then you'll want the alternator.  Most of the time you're stuck either a short pull or forgetting about it all together and using a strap is more likely.  Now, this really depends on the trails you do though.